It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia
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| It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia | |
|---|---|
 Season 1 & 2 DVD Box |
|
| Format | Comedy |
| Created by | Rob McElhenney |
| Developed by | Rob McElhenney Glenn Howerton |
| Starring | Charlie Day Glenn Howerton Rob McElhenney Kaitlin Olson Danny DeVito |
| Opening theme | "Temptation Sensation" by Heinz Kiessling |
| Country of origin |  United States |
| No. of seasons | 3 |
| No. of episodes | 32 (List of episodes) |
| Production | |
| Running time | 22-23 min. |
| Broadcast | |
| Original channel | FX |
| Original run | August 4, 2005 – present |
| External links | |
| Official website | |
| IMDb profile | |
| TV.com summary | |
It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia is an American comedy series created by Rob McElhenney and developed by McElhenney and Glenn Howerton. It premiered on FX on August 4, 2005. The show is about four friends in their late 20s who run an unsuccessful Irish bar, "Paddy's Pub," in South Philadelphia. The series deals with a variety of controversial topics, including abortion, gun control, physical disabilities, racism, sexism, religion, the Israeli/Palestinian situation, terrorism, transsexuality, slavery, incest, sexual harassment in education, the homeless, statutory rape, drug addiction, pedophilia, child abuse, mental illness, gay rights and prostitution. The show is rated TV-MA.
Contents |
[edit] History
The show began as a pilot called "It's Always Sunny on TV" and was shot on a digital camcorder by Charlie Day, Glenn Howerton and Rob McElhenney. After viewing the pilot, FX Network executives ordered the first season. Although it is often stated publicly that the pilot was shot for $200,[1] the makers of the show have claimed that the cost was much lower because the only costs were videotapes.[1] Danny DeVito, who joined the show in Season Two, said on The Daily Show (August 3, 2006) and on The Late Show with David Letterman (September 6, 2007) that the cost was only $85.
According to Rob McElhenney,[1] word of mouth on the show was good enough during the first season for FX to renew it for a second, which premiered June 29, 2006. DeVito joined the cast, playing the father of Dennis (Howerton) and Sweet Dee (Olson).
The first season finale aired September 13, 2005. Reruns of edited first season episodes began airing on FX's parent network, Fox Broadcasting, in 2006. In the UK and Ireland, Bravo broadcast the first season in early 2006, with the second season to be broadcast in November 2006 according to the Sun's TV magazine. It is also shown on Channel 6 in Ireland. The show is also shown in Sweden, and in Canada where it airs on Showcase. The show premiered in Australia in 2007 on the Seven Network. Seven recently began airing season 2- it screens at 11.30 pm Sundays. The first season aired in the Arab world on Showtime Arabia's Paramount Comedy Channel in November 2006. The third season premiered on September 13, 2007.[2] On August 18, 2007, a preview episode from a third-season episode "Mac is a Serial Killer" appeared on the group's MySpace page.
The third season ran from September 13, 2007 to November 15, 2007. On March 5, 2008, FX renewed It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia for a fourth season[3], which will be comprised of 13 episodes that will air in fall 2008.[4]
In June of 2008 Season 4 teaser commercials began running on FX with the date September 18. Implying that Season 4 will begin on Thursday, September 18, presumably in the same timeslot of 10:00.
[edit] Cast and characters
[edit] Main cast
- Glenn Howerton as Dennis Reynolds: Dennis is co-owner of Paddy's and Dee's twin brother. He is a vain, self-absorbed prep and a self-described "ladies' man". Dennis' self-esteem is derived chiefly from his appearance, so he takes criticism of his looks very poorly. A running joke throughout season three showed Dennis constantly removing his shirt to display his physique. Dennis was popular in high school, but his prom date dumped him for another man. Despite making less than $400 a week at the bar, his family's wealth enables Dennis to wear stylish clothing and drive a Range Rover. He earned good grades at the University of Pennsylvania and minored in psychology, though his original ambition was to become a veterinarian. He listens to glam rock and Rick Astley.
- Kaitlin Olson as Diandra [5]"Sweet Dee" Reynolds: Dee is Dennis's twin sister and a bartender at Paddy's. She dropped out of Penn (where she had majored in psychology but failed her classes) to become an actress, but has put little effort into realizing her ambition. Although she identifies herself as a compassionate liberal, she will always put herself first and often has the same prejudices as her friends and brother. She is highly sensitive about her appearance and her professional failings. She was unpopular in high school due to her severe scoliosis, which forced her to wear a back brace and earned her the nickname "The Aluminum Monster". Since high school, she has had a long string of failed relationships. Like the other members of the gang, she drinks heavily, especially to calm herself after meeting an attractive man. Diandra also harbors a phobia regarding the elderly. Despite her many insecurities, Dee is aggressively outspoken and prone to violence when angered. Dee was the only major character in the show to be conceived without an actor in mind. Although Diandra was originally written as a female voice of sanity to contrast with her ill-intentioned co-stars, the character became an equal participant in the gang's activities after Olson was cast. Although most of the characters call her "Sweet Dee," the script still lists her as "Diandra Reynolds." Many times, her name is misspelled as "Deandra" (which is phonetically correct), but it's actually spelled "Diandra"[6]
- Rob McElhenney as Mac: Mac is Charlie's childhood friend and Dennis's high school friend, later roommate. He is co-owner of Paddy's and generally the pub's most active manager. He comes from a broken home, as his father was an incarcerated meth dealer, and Mac sold drugs to popular students in high school to gain their friendship. Mac constantly seeks the acceptance of others, especially his parents, but his over-earnest efforts more often than not cause him to be considered an "asshole". Mac also makes frequent attempts to be "hard", usually to impress his criminal father, but he generally flees from confrontation and fares poorly in fights. Mac is Catholic and the only member of the group to profess a religious faith, but this has done little to affect his general lack of ethics (though he is opposed to abortion, unless he is the father of the child).
- Charlie Day as Charlie Kelly: Charlie is Mac's childhood friend and a co-owner of Paddy's. He is a volatile loser who displays little ability to cope with day-to-day problems. In addition, he lives in filth and is known to be poor; his apartment is often referred to by friends and acquaintances as a "shit hole." Throughout the show, Charlie shows signs of several learning disabilities, including dyslexia, and is often accused of being "retarded" and illiterate by other characters. All of the most tedious and disgusting tasks at the bar are called "Charlie Work", even when he is temporarily spared from performing them. He tends to squander the little money he earns from the bar on "bad investments". He has an extremely short fuse and is prone to Al Pacino-styled outbursts. Mac and Dennis frequently manipulate him into tests of his fortitude, and consider him to be almost impossible to injure. Charlie has no success in dating, and harbors an unrequited crush on a cafe waitress. Despite his apparent lack of intelligence, Charlie is the most skilled musician in the group and has concocted elaborate plans to achieve his desires. He spent the majority of his life without a father figure until the finale episode of season two, when he learned who his father is.
- Danny DeVito as Frank Reynolds: Frank is the legal father of Dennis and Dee. Frank is a successful businessman and he has a long history of shady business endeavors. He was introduced in the first episode of the second season as a man undergoing a midlife crisis. He divorced Dennis and Dee's mother and decided to join in his children's lazy, scheming lifestyle. Frank became co-owner of Paddy's by purchasing land underneath it, and then using this leverage to forcibly join the gang. Frank is a master manipulator and frequently takes the lead in the gang's schemes. Frank knows many sordid characters around town, including a ring of Asian gamblers who the gang find creepy. He claims to have his children's best interests at heart, but frequently exploits and insults them. Frank is shocked and disgusted to learn that Dee and Dennis are not his biological offspring.
[edit] Recurring cast
- Mary Elizabeth Ellis as The Waitress: A nameless, recovering alcoholic waitress at a cafe, with whom Charlie is madly in love. The Waitress has no interest in Charlie, but harbors her own unrequited crush on Dennis. Charlie goes to great lengths to woo her, and she goes to equally great lengths to attract Dennis' attention. Mary Elizabeth Ellis is Charlie Day's real-life wife.
- Anne Archer as Barbara Reynolds: Frank's gold-digging ex-wife and the mother of Dennis and Dee. She is a cold, cruel, and selfish woman with little affection for her family. The finale of season two revealed that Barbara tricked Frank into raising the twins because she thought he was wealthier than Dennis and Dee's biological father, Bruce Mathis (Stephen Collins). She has a vindictive streak, sleeping with Mac solely to make Frank jealous during their divorce, and cutting her children out of her will for petty and illogical reasons. She passes away in the third season.
- Stephen Collins as Bruce Mathis. The antithesis of Frank Reynolds. Bruce devotes most of his time to helping suffering children in Africa, several of whom he has adopted. He first appears in Episode 210, "Dennis and Dee Get a New Dad." He later appears in Episode 303, "Dennis and Dee's Mom is Dead", where he inherits Barbara's fortune.
- Lynne Marie Stewart as Bonnie Kelly: Charlie's mom, a sweet and timid woman who is attracted to cruel men. She had a one-night stand with Frank Reynolds 30 years ago. She later reconnects with Frank through myspace.com, enjoying his harsh treatment and becoming his "bang-maid", but quickly transfers her affections to the malevolent Luther after meeting him at a dinner party. Lynne Marie Stewart is fondly remembered as Miss Yvonne on the popular children's show Pee-Wee's Playhouse.
- Gregory Scott Cummins as Luther: Mac's father and a convicted felon. In his first appearance in the episode "Dennis and Dee Get a New Dad," Mac and Charlie visit him in prison to bond with him, and he attempts to get them to smuggle heroin into the prison. He plays a larger role in "Dennis Looks Like a Registered Sex Offender," this time out on parole and convincing Mac to help him "take care of some people." He is tall, has numerous tattoos, and mentions that he rarely blinks, giving him a generally intimidating appearance. The warm and gentle Bonnie Kelly is attracted to Luther's aloof behavior and criminal past, and the two begin a relationship.
- Sandy Martin as Mac's Mom: Always seen smoking and watching TV. First appears in "Mac Bangs Dennis' Mom" when Dennis attempts to exact revenge against Mac by having sex with her, only to have his advances refused. She remains equally apathetic when Mac's dad returns from prison.
- Nate Mooney and Jimmi Simpson as The McPoyle Brothers: Creepy former elementary school classmates of Mac and Charlie. It is hinted that Ryan (Mooney) and Liam (Simpson) have an incestuous relationship with each other and their mute sister Margaret (Thesy Surface). They have numerous other siblings (all noticeable from their unibrow, acne and eczema) numbering around 14 as seen in "The Gang Gets Invincible" including "Doyle McPoyle". They are enemies with Charlie since he foiled their plan to become rich through a false molestation lawsuit against the school district.
- Artemis Pebdani as Artemis: Friend of Dee's from her acting classes. In the episode "Charlie Has Cancer" Artemis was hired to work at the bar in a move to make it more like the Coyote Ugly Saloon, but rejected when Dennis sees that she is a freak. Also appeared in "Charlie Goes America All Over Everybody's Ass," now with a fondness for performing in the nude, and in "The Gang Gets Invincible," as Frank's acid trip.
- Brittany Daniel as Carmen; The transsexual Mac dated in episode 104 ("Charlie Has Cancer") and the episode "Mac Is a Serial Killer".
- David Hornsby as Matthew Mara AKA Rickety Cricket: A high school classmate of the gang. After high school, he ended up becoming a priest. He first appears in "The Gang Exploits a Miracle", in which it is revealed that he had a crush on Dee in high school. She used to exploit his feelings for her by getting him to do her math homework or even eat an entire horse turd in exchange for a kiss.
Each character can be described as very dishonest and antagonistic. At varying times members have lied for the sake of personal gain. In most episodes these character flaws result in unhappy endings for the main characters as well as the innocent bystanders caught in their path. Conflicts that arise from their mutually competitive natures are the basis for many plots. This has ranged from competition over women between the guys, Dee proving she is as strong or competent as the others, who can steal more things, or even who can amass the most religious followers. In almost every episode, the entire gang, or most of the gang, gets into an arguing match in which they try to shout over each other. Notable instances include the fight in Paddy's bathroom between Charlie and Dennis and the entire gang arguing over who might have been responsible for their potential deaths in "Charlie Gets Crippled". The gang can also often be seen squabbling and generally acting rude and unprofessional when seated in front of someone's desk in a professional environment, such as a lawyer ("Dennis and Dee's Mom is Dead") or a businessman ("The Gang Sells Out").
The characters always receive their just punishment. If no good deed goes unpunished, the price for the gang's (mis)behavior is living in a constant state of purgatory. The major difference between them (and most other "famously irreverent" situational comedies) is that the gang has an irrepressible and unrelenting zeal for digging their own graves and then lunging into them.
The gang tends to flee confrontations constantly throughout the show. In the episode "Dennis and Dee Go on Welfare", Mac and Charlie are unable to pay off their hired prostitutes, and are forced to "handle this situation the way we handle every situation"—by running away.
[edit] Episodes
[edit] Selected guest stars
- Autumn Reeser (The O.C.) appears in Episode 102, "Charlie Wants An Abortion", as Megan, a pro-life activist that Mac meets at a pro-life center.
- Michael Rosenbaum (Smallville) appears in Episode 105, "Gun Fever", as Colin, a gun-loving thief who steals from the neighboring bars in Philadelphia by manipulating their female bartenders.
- Dennis Haskins (Saved by the Bell) appears in Episode 107, "Charlie Gets Molested", as Coach Murray, a coach being prosecuted by the McPoyle brothers, who falsely claimed that they were molested by him.
- Eddie Mekka (Laverne and Shirley) appears in Episode 205, "Hundred Dollar Baby", as Bobby Thunderstorm, Frank's old boxing rival from the 1960s (and the father of Dee's new boxing rival).
- Stephen Collins (7th Heaven) appears in Episode 210 & 303, "Dennis and Dee Get A New Dad" & "Dennis and Dee's Mom is Dead", as Bruce Mathis, the kind and selfless true father of Dennis and Dee.
- Faizon Love, the TV and movie actor, appears in Episode 302, "The Gang Gets Invincible", as the head trainer and coach of the Philadelphia Eagles development team.
- Judy Greer (Arrested Development) appears in Episode 305, "The Aluminum Monster vs. Fatty McGoo", as fashion designer/clothing store owner Ingrid Nelson (aka Fatty McGoo), as the former schoolmate Dee used to torment (which she used as inspiration to ultimately become far more successful than Dee).
- Brittany Daniel (Glenn Howerton's That 80's Show co-star) appears in Episode 104 and 310, "Charlie Gets Cancer" & "Mac is a Serial Killer", as Carmen, a male-to-female transsexual that Mac has an on-again, off-again relationship with (sometimes to his nervous embarrassment).
[edit] DVD release
| DVD Name | Release date | Ep # | Additional information |
|---|---|---|---|
| Seasons 1 & 2 |
September 4, 2007 | 17 | Cast Commentary, Scenes from the pilot, Making of Feauturette, Outtakes and Audition Tapes. |
| Season 3 | September 9, 2008 | 15 | Commentary Track, Featurette: The Making of Season 3, Featurette: On Location in Philly, Featurette: Anatomy of a Man, "On The Road With the Guys", Picture Gallery, FX Promos, Gag reel. |
[edit] New show
A new television show, Boldly Going Nowhere, is being developed by the creators of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia. It is rumored to be a mix of sci-fi and comedy.[7]
[edit] Trivia
- Kaitlin Olson and Rob McEllheney are engaged in real-life.
- In real life, Charlie Day is married to Mary Elizabeth Ellis (the waitress).
- The series does not have a soundtrack of its own. The show's theme is a piece of production music called "Temptation Sensation" by Heinz Kiessling, controlled by Extreme Music LLC. Other re-occurring pieces include "Premier Parade" by Werner Tautz, "Clique Chic" by Mondstein/Part, and also "Off Broadway", again by Werner Tautz. All other music on the show is also generic library music.
- During the show's first season, it was aired in an hour-long block alongside another FX show Starved. Favorable coverage for Starved led to it being slated as the lead-off show of the block. Its quick failure to achieve high ratings resulted in the two programs switching time slots, with It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia taking the lead-off position. The cancellation of Starved led to FX airing two new episodes of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia a week as part of an hour-long block with the start of the show's second season.
- Charlie's "war hero" costume in the episode "Charlie Gets Crippled" is based on famed Vietnam war protester and writer Ron Kovic.
- Each episode ends with the RCH production logo, with the actors in hooded sweatshirts with a sound clip played backwards.
- In Season 1, when this is played forwards, it says "You are stupid for playing this forward." At the end of the first-season finale "Charlie Got Molested", the message had an echo.
- Backwards Sound Clip
- Forward Sound Clip
- In Season 2, when this is played forwards, it says "Is it brown? Is it brown? Is it brown? Good work. Is it brown? Is it brown? Is it brown? Good work."
- Backwards Sound Clip
- Forward Sound Clip
- In Season 3, when this is played forwards, it says "Make it brown. Make it brown. Make it brown. Make it brown." but done in a songful tune.
- Backwards Sound Clip
- Forward Sound Clip
- In Season 1, when this is played forwards, it says "You are stupid for playing this forward." At the end of the first-season finale "Charlie Got Molested", the message had an echo.
- There have so far been only four episode titles without "The Gang" or a character’s name in it ("Underage Drinking: A National Concern," "Gun Fever," "Hundred Dollar Baby," and "Bums: Making a Mess All Over the City"). Dennis' name has appeared five times, Dee's name has appeared seven times (including "The Aluminum Monster Versus Fatty McGoo"), Mac's name has appeared three times, Charlie has appeared in five titles, and Frank has been in one. "The Gang" has been in 13.
- The original title for "Hundred Dollar Baby" was scheduled to be "Sweet Dee Takes Steroids," but was changed as a play on the name of the movie Million Dollar Baby.
- Most of the show is shot in Los Angeles, though the opening sequence and occasional exterior scenes are filmed in Philly.
- Danny DeVito was only available for 20 days of shooting for all of season two.
- For the episode "Dennis and Dee Get a New Dad", the webpage created on MySpace for Frank actually exists. He only has one friend, Tom.
- The gang often sings a cappella or without the accompaniment of music. Songs that have been sung during the show are:
- "Never Gonna Give You Up" by Rick Astley
- "Just A Friend" by Biz Markie
- "More Than Words" by Extreme
- "Greatest Love of All" by Whitney Houston
- Other notable songs used in the show: "Forever Young" by Alphaville and "You're the Best" by Joe Esposito
- In the episode "Mac Bangs Dennis' Mom" Glenn Howerton and Rob McElhenney provide the vocals and lyrics to the song "Go For It!" that is heard in the club that Frank and Mac go to pick girls up at.
- Glenn Howerton (Dennis) and guest star Brittany Daniel (Carmen the transsexual) were cast members of That '80s Show.
- A running gag throughout season 3 involves Dennis removing his shirt, baring his chest in almost every episode.
- A promotion for season 3 includes clips of the cast making random noises and it being edited into a beatbox. This is a homage to the video "Hyperactive" by Lasse Gjertsen. [1]
[edit] Opening titles locales
In order of appearance:
- Benjamin Franklin Bridge
- Penn's Landing (Market Street)
- Lincoln Financial Field
- Swann Memorial Fountain (Logan Circle)
- Boathouse Row
- 30th Street Station
- South Street
[edit] Other locales
[edit] References
- ^ a b c IGN: It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia Premiere
- ^ http://www.cnn.com/2007/SHOWBIZ/TV/07/13/television.fx.reut/index.html retrieved July 21, 2007; dead link as of at least Sept. 10, 2007
- ^ 'Always Sunny in Philadelphia' Gets Another Season. TV Blogger. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
- ^ 'Always Sunny in Philadelphia' Gets Another Season. EW TV. Retrieved on 2008-03-05.
- ^ Kaitlin Olson
- ^ 'It's Always Sunny' screen test college tour - Smallscreen
- ^ The Hollywood Reporter
- Official website
- Official MySpace page
- Charlie Day (Dot) Net
- It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on TV Squad
[edit] External links
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